Summer grooming essentials

You may find it hard to believe but summer is here and with the sun's eventual arrival, comes a new set of grooming guidelines that are essential for your survival, come rain or shine.

1
/
3

Problem one: the sun

If you look after your skin all year round you'll know the importance of moisturizing and in summer your skin needs even more protection. Whether you're sitting on the beach or in a beer garden the sun's rays are at the ready to burn you as soon as your eyes are off the ball. If you know you're going to be out in it, make sure you apply sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB radiations regularly. Only use creams with at least a four-star-UVA-protection rating and cover up moles or sensitive areas (ears, neck, knees, feet). For a day-to-day strategy check your normal moisturizer as it may already contain SPF15 and, if not, upgrade to one that does.

Problem two: I'm burnt

Almost inevitably, at some point you'll succumb to the sun's irresistible pull and end up with a burn. While we can't help with how to get over the embarrassment factor, we can advise on aftercare. Soothe your skin with an aftersun lotion — it should contain aloe vera or camomile and be applied after every shower. Pro tip: keep yours in the fridge to make it even more soothing. Have your painkillers at the ready too — they'll reduce the discomfort and the inflammation. And, of course, drink lots of water.

Picture: Xposure

2
/
3

Problem three: I look tired, I'm hot, my skin is dry

Water, and lots of it. So many of your grooming groans can be solved by making sure you're hydrated, so do the sensible thing and get at least your two litres a day during summer. If plain old water doesn't quite float your boat, we recommend sampling some celebrity-endorsed H20, or a trendy carton of coconut water. Plenty of pints of the clear stuff is the only way to get anywhere near Jaden Smith's Zen-like radiance.

Problem four: my lips hurt

Just like winter, summer's more extreme temperatures will cause your lips to dry out and crack. Give yourself some love and invest in a summer lip balm that will provide solid protection and make your lips look alright too. Pro tip: you can liberate some lip salve from the ladies in your life, but be warned that they often contain color, glitter and gloss.

Picture: Splash

3
/
3

Problem five: I'm hairy

Chances are you'll have to take your shirt off this summer and when that moment comes you'll want to have your body hair in check. If you're hiding a fine carpet of manly fur under your T-shirts and you'd prefer something a little more streamlined, there's always a pricey professional wax, or you could take the matter into your own hands. In our how-to video there's everything you need to achieve fuzz-free skin.